MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released the bestsellers list for April. Doug Beed’s Chasing Understanding in the Jungles of Vietnam: My Year as a Black Scarf took the top spot. Living in the Afterlife by Michele Livingston was runner up.

SUNBURY PRESS – Bestsellers for April, 2017 (by Revenue)

Rank

Last Month

Title

Author

Category

1

1

Chasing Understanding in the Jungles of Vietnam

Doug Beed

Military Memoir

2

32

Living in the Afterlife

Michele Livingston

Spirituality

3

3

Dead of Spring

Sherry Knowlton

Thriller Fiction

4

11

Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, 2nd Ed.

Mike Campbell

History

5

NEW

Had a Dying Fall

J M West

Thriller Fiction

6

4

American Berserk

Bill Morris

Memoir

7

8

The Sea is a Thief

David Parmalee

Historical Fiction

8

—

The Penns’ Manor of Spread Eagle and the Grist Mills of the Mahantango Valley

Steve Troutman

Local History

9

—

Tulpehocken Trail Traces

Steve Troutman

Local History

10

19

The B Team

Alan Mindell

Sports Fiction

11

35

Skunks, Nuts, and Other Stories

John L Moore

Family History

12

—

Prince and the Paupers

Guy Graybill

Local History

13

21

The Closer

Alan Mindell

Sports Fiction

14

—

Winter of the Metal People

Dennis Herrick

Historical Fiction

15

10

Wonder Boy: The Story of Carl Scheib

Lawrence Knorr

Biography

16

NEW

The Honey Trap

Wade Fowler

Thriller Fiction

17

2

Embattled Freedom

Jim Remsen

History

18

—

Dead of Autumn

Sherry Knowlton

Thriller Fiction

19

—

Prohibition’s Prince

Guy Graybill

Local History

20

9

The Sign of the Eagle

Jess Steven Hughes

Historical Fiction

21

—

The Wolf of Britannia Part II

Jess Steven Hughes

Historical Fiction

22

28

Planet Jesus #1: Flesh & Blood

Doug & Shaun Brode

Supernatural Fiction

23

—

Freemasons at Gettysburg

Sheldon Munn

History

24

—

The Wolf of Britannia Part I

Jess Steven Hughes

Historical Fiction

25

38

That Night at Surigao

Ernie Marshall

History

26

NEW

Tigers by the River

Wylie McLallen

Sports History

27

17

Seinsoth

Steven k Wagner

Sports Biography

28

24

Miss Feesenschneezen Is Ill

David Parmalee

Middle Grade Fiction

29

NEW

Keystone Tombstones Battle of Gettysburg

Farrell, Farley & Knorr

Biography

30

—

Perilous Journey

Ted Brusaw

Historical Fiction

31

40

Keystone Corruption Continues

Brad Bumsted

History

32

47

Messages from Beyond

Michele Livingston

Spirituality

33

37

There Is Something about Rough and Ready

Lawrence Knorr, et al

History

34

50

Dead of Summer

Sherry Knowlton

Thriller Fiction

35

33

Pit Bulls

Anthony Julian

History

36

6

Tories, Terror, and Tea

John L Moore

History

37

45

Jesus the Phoenician

Karim El Koussa

History

38

—

Home Is a Long Time Ago

William F Lee

Historical Fiction

39

—

Ded Reckoning

William F Lee

Espionage Thriller

40

39

Bows, Bullets, and Bears

John L Moore

History

41

41

Hour 30

Brandon Musgrave

Memoir

42

—

The Heatstroke Line

Ed Rubin

Climate Fiction

43

—

Digging Dusky Diamonds

John Lindermuth

Local History

44

—

OneWay: The Oracle

Robin McClellan

Metaphysical Fiction

45

42

Forts, Forests, and Flintlocks

John L Moore

History

46

31

Fireproof Moth

Mile Thornberry

History

47

30

What Waits Beneath

Thomas Malafarina

Horror

48

NEW

A Second Revolution

C James Gilbert

Historical Fiction

49

—

Pythagoras

Karim El Koussa

Historical Fiction

50

—

Lost in the Shadow of Fame

William Lemanski

History

Doug Beed’s Vietnam memoir Chasing Understanding in the Jungles of Vietnam, was #1 due to brisk sales, especially on the Kindle platform, upon its release. Medium Michele Livingston’s Living in the Afterlife took #2 due to her regular media appearances. Sherry Knowlton’s Dead of Springheld at #3 due to her successful Earth Day release campaign. Mike Campbell’s Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last took #4 due to a spike in interest in the aviatrix. J M West’s latest volume in the Carlisle Crime Casesseries, Had a Dying Fall was #5 thanks to author activities.

About the Book:
When a beloved state senator plunges to his death at Alexa Williams’ feet in the Capitol Rotunda, the authorities suspect suicide. Although the powerful chair of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee was at the center of a controversial new bill to expand hydraulic fracturing, he was also rumored to be ill. Shaken, Alexa tries to move past the disturbing incident by concentrating on work. She’s leading a senate commission on sex trafficking. Plus, she’s helping an old college roommate sue a natural gas company for their role in causing her daughter’s rare cancer.

In researching the lawsuit, Alexa becomes embroiled in the high-stakes politics of fracking. As the relationship with her state trooper boyfriend drifts onto the rocks, Alexa is drawn to a charismatic state legislator who’s leading an anti-fracking crusade. Then, the police shock Alexa with the news that she could be in danger; she’s a witness to the senator’s murder, not his suicide.

When Alexa narrowly escapes a sniper’s bullet, she must discover why she’s a target―and who she can trust—before the next shot hits its mark.

With Sherry Knowlton’s trademark mix of feminism, history, romance, and fast-paced thrills, Dead of Spring skyrockets from the fracking fields of the Marcellus Shale to the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster of 1979 to the rolling hills of Tuscany to the halls of Pennsylvania state government. In this suspenseful tale of corruption and runaway greed, Alexa Williams proves, once again, that she’s a formidable heroine. The twists and turns keep will keep you on the edge of your seat.

What Others Are Saying:
DEAD OF SPRING combines legislative corruption with corporate greed that ends in deadly violence. Heroine Alexa Williams resists intimidation to battle evil at the highest levels of Pennsylvania government and commerce. Spurring her on is a love for the environment and for a friend whose daughter’s cancer is caused by fracking. Here is a spellbinding yarn jerked straight from today’s frightening headlines. — Kay Kendall, award-winning author of historical mysteries

About the Author:
Sherry Knowlton is the author of the Alexa Williams series of crime thrillers, Dead of Autumn and Dead of Summer. When not working on her health care consulting business or traveling around the world, Knowlton lives in the mountains of South Central Pennsylvania.

Excerpt:
A subtle shift in light caught Alexa’s attention. Her eyes rose from the notebook as she sensed a whisper of motion in the open space above. She gasped as a body sailed through the air, careening toward the grand central staircase. For a moment, time stalled and the body appeared to drift in slow motion as it floated through the bright rotunda. But, as it neared their bench, the body seemed to pick up speed. Alexa watched, frozen in place with hand to her mouth in horror, as it hurtled closer and closer.

Then, with a tremendous crash, the body smashed into one of the tall winged statues that flanked the foot of the stairway, shattering a beaded crystal orb the angel held aloft. A spray of blood and glass beads spiraled in a shiny pink mist from the falling man as he bounced off the statue. Losing forward momentum, the body made an abrupt drop and slammed into the clay cobblestone floor.

Keisha’s shrieks muted the leaden thud of body hitting bricks. Recovering from her initial shock, Alexa leapt to her feet, scattering her coat, notebook, and papers to the floor. Slipping on crystal beads and uneven bricks, she rushed toward the motionless form that had landed less than ten feet away.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released the bestsellers list for March. Doug Beed’s Chasing Understanding in the Jungles of Vietnam: My Year as a Black Scarf took the top spot. Embattled Freedom by Jim Remsen was runner up.

SUNBURY PRESS – Bestsellers for March, 2017 (by Revenue)

Rank

Last Month

Title

Author

Category

1

NEW

Chasing Understanding in the Jungles of Vietnam

Doug Beed

Memoir

2

12

Embattled Freedom

Jim Remsen

History

3

33

Dead of Spring

Sherry Knowlton

Thriller Fiction

4

15

American Berserk

Bill Morris

Memoir

5

—

The Journey Called Life

Christina Burns

Memoir

6

14

Tories, Terror, and Tea

John L Moore

History

7

5

Call Sign Dracula

Joe Fair

Vietnam Memoir

8

49

The Sea is a Thief

David Parmalee

Historical Fiction

9

11

The Sign of the Eagle

Jess Steven Hughes

Historical Fiction

10

—

Wonder Boy: The Story of Carl Scheib

Lawrence Knorr

Biography

11

9

Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, 2nd Ed.

Mike Campbell

History

12

—

Dinorific Poetry Volume 2

Mike & Ethan Sgrignoli

Childrens

13

—

Dinorific Poetry Volume 3

Mike & Ethan Sgrignoli

Childrens

14

—

Strange Magic

Catherine Jordan, et al

Short Stories

15

26

The Ripper’s Haunts

Michael Hawley

History

16

42

Where Elephants Fought

Bridget Smith

Historical Fiction

17

4

Seinsoth

Steven k Wagner

Sports Biography

18

—

The Savage Apostle

John Kachuba

Historical Fiction

19

6

The B Team

Alan Mindell

Sports Fiction

20

—

The Cogan Legend

Robert Miller

Historical Fiction

21

7

The Closer

Alan Mindell

Sports Fiction

22

—

From Blue Ground

Joe Harvey

YA Fiction

23

—

Dying for Vengeance

J M West

Thriller Fiction

24

NEW

Miss Feesenschneezen Is Ill

David Parmalee

Middle Grade Fiction

25

—

Courting Doubt and Darkness

J M West

Thriller Fiction

26

—

Darkness at First Light

J M West

Thriller Fiction

27

NEW

The Silent Woman

Keith Rommel

Psycho Thriller

28

13

Planet Jesus #1: Flesh & Blood

Doug & Shaun Brode

Supernatural Fiction

29

—

Visions of Teaoga

Jim Remsen

YA Fiction

30

NEW

What Waits Beneath

Thomas Malafarina

Horror

31

—

Fireproof Moth

Mile Thornberry

History

32

16

Living in the Afterlife

Michele Livingston

Spirituality

33

18

Pit Bulls

Anthony Julian

History

34

—

History of Lykens Township Volume 1

Gratz Historical Society

History

35

—

Skunks, Nuts, and Other Stories

John L Moore

Family History

36

—

H is for Hershey

Heather Paterno

Childrens

37

—

There Is Something about Rough and Ready

Lawrence Knorr, et al

History

38

50

That Night at Surigao

Ernie Marshall

History

39

31

Bows, Bullets, and Bears

John L Moore

History

40

38

Keystone Corruption Continues

Brad Bumsted

History

41

39

Hour 30

Brandon Musgrave

Memoir

42

30

Forts, Forests, and Flintlocks

John L Moore

History

43

—

Hidden Dangers

Bob Stout

Current Affairs

44

2

Beagle Tales VI

Bob Ford

Humor

45

21

Jesus the Phoenician

Karim El Koussa

History

46

41

The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping

William Cook

True Crime

47

35

Messages from Beyond

Michele Livingston

Spirituality

48

28

Cannons, Cattle, and Campfires

John L Moore

History

49

—

The Devil’s Grasp

Brian Koscienski & Chris Pisano

Fantasy

50

—

Dead of Summer

Sherry Knowlton

Thriller Fiction

Doug Beed’s Vietnam memoir Chasing Understanding in the Jungles of Vietnam, was #1 due to advance sales leading up to its release in April. Jim Remsen’s history of heroism in a small Pennsylvania town Embattled Freedom continued to sell well since its release, taking #2 as Jim landed a television interview on PA Books. Sherry Knowlton’s Dead of Springsoared to #3 due to advance activity for this Earth Day release. Bill Morris’s memoir American Berserk took #4 due to bookstore sales. Christina Burns’ memoir The Journey Called Life was #5 thanks to author activities.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released the bestsellers list for March, 2016. Mike Campbell’s 2nd edition of his Amelia Earhart book took the top spot. Dead of Summer by Sherry Knowlton grabbed the second spot.

SUNBURY PRESS – Bestsellers for March, 2016 (by Revenue)

Rank

Last Month

Title

Author

Category

1

NEW

Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, 2nd Ed.

Mike Campbell

History

2

—

Dead of Summer

Sherry Knowlton

Murder Mystery

3

—

Dead of Autumn

Sherry Knowlton

Murder Mystery

4

13

Choice of Enemies

M A Richards

Spy Thriller

5

NEW

The Relations of Dwight D Eisenhower, 2nd Ed.

Lawrence Knorr

Genealogy

6

6

The Bipolar Millionaire

John E Wade II

Biography

7

2

Solomon Screech Owl’s Antarctic Adventure

Beth Lancione & Kathy Haney

Childrens

8

—

From Blue Ground

Joe Harvey

YA Fiction

9

—

The 3-5-7 Model

Darla Henry

Grief Counseling

10

24

Call Sign Dracula

Joe Fair

War Memoir

11

3

Between Good and Evil

R Michael Phillips

Detective Thriller

12

—

The Penns’ Manor of Spread Eagle

Steve Troutman

History

13

—

Tulpehocken Trail Traces

Steve Troutman

History

14

NEW

The Mask of Minos

Robert Walton

Thriller Fiction

15

—

Beagle Tales 2

Bob Ford

Pet Humor

16

—

Beagle Tales 4

Bob Ford

Pet Humor

17

—

Beagle Tales 3

Bob Ford

Pet Humor

18

—

Beagle Tales 5

Bob Ford

Pet Humor

19

—

Solomon Screech Owl Goes to the Galapagos

Beth Lancione & Kathy Haney

Childrens

20

NEW

A Moment in the Sun

Tory Gates

YA Fiction

21

—

A Darker Shade of Freedom

C James Gilbert

Historical Fiction

22

11

Rabid Philanderer’s, Inc.

Nancy Williams

Thriller Fiction

23

—

Raising Monarchs

Sue Fox McGovern

Science

24

—

The Undecided

Robin Donaruma

YA Fiction

25

—

The Cogan Legend

Robert Miller

Historical Fiction

26

—

Darkness at First Light

J M West

Murder Mystery

27

—

Found. Still Lost.

Ashley Nichole

Poetry/Photography

28

—

The Politics of Prevailing

William Miller

Education

29

—

Linnea’s Kitchen

Linnea Jepson

Cookbook

30

30

Pit Bulls

Anthony Julian

History

The 2nd edition of “Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last” by Mike Campbell took the top spot thanks to continued interest in the missing aviatrix. Sherry Knowlton nabbed the next two spots with “Dead of Summer” at #2 and “Dead of Autumn” at #3 thanks to author activities. M A Richards’ “Choice of Enemies” climber to #4 due to book store events. Lawrence Knorr’s 2nd edition of “The Relations of Dwight D Eisenhower” joined the rankings at #5 because of a large order for the Pennsylvania German Society event on June 4th honoring the former President and his Pennsylvania Dutch roots. John Wade’s biography “The Bipolar Millionaire” held at #6 thanks to author activities in New Orleans. Beth Lancione’s “Solomon Screech Owl’s Antarctic Adventure” slipped to #7 as orders tapered following the initial release. However, “Soloon Screech Owl Goes to the Galapagos” returned to #19 thanks to interest in the Antarctic release. Joe Harvey’s “From Blue Ground” rejoined the rankings at #8 due to author activities. Darla Henry’s “The 3-5-7 Model” took #9 thanks to orders from clinics. Joe Fair’s Vietnam memoir “Call Sign Dracula” climbed to #10 because of author activities. Michael Phillips’ “Between Good and Evil” held at #11 thanks to bookstore orders in advance of signing events. Steve Troutman grabbed #12 and #13 with “The Penns’ Manor at Spread Eagle …” and “Tulpehocken Trail Traces” thanks to interest in the author’s events in the region. Robert Walton’s new release “The Mask of Minos” grabbed #14 due to author release activities. Bob Ford ranked #15, #16, #17 & #18 with Beagle Tales 2, 4, 3, & 5. Ford has had great responses when selling books at his dog trials. Tory Gates’ new release “A Moment in the Sun” debuted at #20 thanks to author events. C James Gilbert’s “A Darker Shade of Freedom” returned to the rankings at #21 as the author prepped for events. Nancy Williams’ “Rabid Philanderers” held on at #22 due to online sales. Sue Fox McGovern’s ” Raising Monarchs ranked #23 as seasonal orders from garden centers arrived. Robin Donaruma’s “The Undecided” climbed to #24 thanks to author activities. Robert Miller’s “The Cogan Legend” ranked #25 due to local interest. Joan West’s “Darkness at First Light” took #26 from book signing sales. Ashley Nichole’s “Found Still Lost” charted at #27 from sales at an author event in Hershey, PA. Dr. William Miller’s “The Politics of Prevailing” made the list at #28 thanks to sales to education professionals. Joanna Jepson’s “Linnea’s Kitchen” cookbook sold out of it’s print run, taking #29. Anthony Julian’s “Pit Bulls” clung to #30 for the second straight month due to online sales.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released the bestsellers list for July, 2015. Chris Papst took the top spot for the third month in a row with Capital Murder, the expose of Harrisburg’s failed finances. Darla Henry’s grief counseling classic The 3-5-7 Model grabbed the second spot. Sherry Knowlton’s recently-released Dead of Summer led Fiction at #5.

SUNBURY PRESS – Bestsellers for July, 2015 (by Revenue)

Rank

Last Month

Title

Author

Category

1

1

Capital Murder

Chris Papst

Investigation

2

—

The 3-5-7 Model

Darla Henry

Counseling

3

NEW

The Bipolar Millionaire and the Operation

John E Wade II

Memoir

4

—

Dinofiric Poetry Volume 2

Mike Sgrignoli

Childrens

5

NEW

Dead of Summer

Sherry Knowlton

Murder Mystery

6

17

The B Team

Alan Mindell

Sports Fiction

7

11

Where Elephants Fought

Bridget Smith

Historical Fiction

8

NEW

The Segregated Georgia School for the Deaf

Ron Knorr & Clemmie Whatley

History

9

5

The Cursed Man

Keith Rommel

Thriller Fiction

10

19

The Closer

Alan Mindell

Sports Fiction

11

—

The Bronze Dagger

Marie Sontag

YA Fiction

12

21

Found. Still Lost.

Ashley Nichole

Photography

13

—

Dead of Autumn

Sherry Knowlton

Murder Mystery

14

15

Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last

Mike Campbell

History

15

24

Forts, Forests, and Flintlocks

John L. Moore

History

16

NEW

Pink Crucifix

Johnny Strife

Supernatural Fiction

17

—

For Better, For Worse

Carolyn Perry

Disaster Memoir

18

30

Traders, Travelers, and Tomahawks

John L. Moore

History

19

29

Settlers, Soldiers, and Scalps

John L. Moore

History

20

23

Bows, Bullets, and Bears

John L. Moore

History

21

—

Warriors, Wampum, and Wolves

John L. Moore

History

22

—

Pioneers, Prisoners, and Peace Pipes

John L. Moore

History

23

—

Rivers, Raiders, and Renegades

John L. Moore

History

24

14

Winter of the Metal People

Dennis Herrick

Historical Fiction

25

—

Silver Moon

Joanne Risso

Childrens

26

—

Beagle Tales 5

Bob Ford

Pet Humor

27

12

Call Sign Dracula

Joe Fair

War Memoir

28

—

Cannons, Cattle, and Campfires

John L. Moore

History

29

—

Beagle Tales 3

Bob Ford

Pet Humor

30

13

Pit Bulls

Anthony Julian

History

Sunbury Press just posted its best July ever! Compared to last Juy, sales more than tripled. YTD Sales are also up over 100% from last year. EBook sales for the month were down over 12% from June. The company continues to see growth in print formats, while ebooks falter.

Chris Papst’s Capital Murder stayed on top due to author media activity and breaking news about the Harrisburg financial scandal. Darla Henry’s The 3-5-7 Model soared to #2 thanks to the author’s speaking engagements. John E Wade II’s memoir, The Bipolar Millionaire and the Operation, showed thanks to advertising and events in his local New Orleans market. Mike and Ethan Sgrignoli’s Dinorific Poetry Volume 2 took #4 thanks to their appearances. Sherry Knowlton’s Dead of Summer debuted at #5, and Dead of Autumn at lucky #13, thanks to author activities. Alan Mindell’s sports novels The B Team (#6) and The Closer(#10) moved up the rankings thanks to the author’s new website and blog. Bridget Smith’s historical novel Where Elephants Fought moved up to #7 thanks to a recent appearance in Nashville. The Segregated Georgia School for the Deaf, by professors Ron Knorr and Clemmie Whatley of Mercer University, debuted at #8 thanks to author activity. Keith Rommel’s The Cursed Man held onto #9 as the author is in between convention appearances. Marie Sontag’s The Bronze Dagger rejoined the list at #11 as she prepares for release of the next volume in the series. Ashley Nichole’s Found. Still Lost.was the top selling art book at #12 due to her exhibition an 2nd Floor Gallery. Mike Campbell’s Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, inched up to #14, thanks to ongoing interest in the lost aviatrix. All 8 of John L. Moore’s Frontier Pennsylvania Series appeared on the list (15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, & 28). Interest remains strong from local bookstores, historical parks, and retailers. Johnny Strife’s Pink Crucifix crept onto the list at #16 thanks to orders from his circle. Carolyn Perry’s Katrina memoir, For Better, For Worse, returned to the list at #17 as the 10th anniversary of the hurricane approaches. Dennis Herrick held at #24 with his Winter of the Metal People. The book is popular in New Mexico. Joanne Risso’s Silver Moon reappeared on the list at #25 thanks to her activities. Bob Ford’s Beagle Talesseries took two spots — #26 with Volume 5 and #29 with Volume 3. Call Sign Dracula, the Vietnam memoir by Joe Fair, continued to chart at #27 thanks to steady sales in bookstores. Anthony Julian’s ever-present Pit Bulls charted again at #30 because of ongoing interest in the subject matter.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released Dead of Summer, Sherry Knowlton’s second Alexa Williams novel. The first book, Dead of Autumn, was released last year.

In a tale of suspense that travels from Southcentral Pennsylvania to Africa to the iconic Woodstock Festival of 1969, Dead of Summerembroils Alexa Williams in the dangerous world of sex trafficking.

With help from friends, family, and her yoga practice, Alexa Williams is finally starting to recover from last autumn’s trauma of finding a dead body and the violence that ensued. The young attorney can’t believe that her summer has begun with the discovery of another body. This time, the dead woman was famous for her worldwide campaign against sex trafficking. The murder hits close to home: the late activist was a friend and mentor to Alexa’s best friend, Melissa.

While the town mourns, Alexa stumbles into a burglary at Melissa’s home, barely escaping serious harm. A client asks for help in convincing the police that her foster child is not a runaway, and Alexa learns that other local girls have gone missing. Drawn into the fight to save lost and exploited children, Alexa discovers a community of child activists. A local philanthropist wants Alexa to join his foster care empire. A sexy social worker and a hip college professor want a more personal connection with Alexa, but she is also drawn to the police detective leading the murder investigation.

Searching for answers, Alexa becomes entangled in a web of deception and danger that puts both her heart and her life at risk. By the time she discovers that the key to the present lies in the halcyon days of peace and music, it may be too late.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sherry Knowlton is the author of the successful Alexa Williams suspense novels, DEAD of AUTUMNand DEAD of SUMMER. Sherry was born and raised in Chambersburg, PA (nee Sherry Rothenberger)where she developed a lifelong passion for books. She was that kid who would sneak a flashlight to bed at night so she could read beneath the covers. All the local librarians knew her by name.

Sherry spent much of her early career in state government, working primarily with social and human services programs, including services for abused children, rape crisis, domestic violence, and family planning. In the 1990s, she served as the Deputy Secretary for Medical Assistance in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The latter part of Sherry’s career has focused on the field of Medicaid managed care. Now retired from executive positions in the health insurance industry, Sherry runs her own health care consulting business.

Sherry has a B.A. in English and psychology from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA.

Sherry and her husband, Mike, began their journey together in the days of peace and music when they traversed the country in a hippie van. Running out of money several months into the trip, Sherry waitressed the night shift at a cowboy hangout in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Mike washed dishes in a bakery. Undeterred, they embraced the travel experience and continue to explore far-flung places around the globe. Sherry and Mike have one son, Josh, a craft brewer.

Sherry lives in the mountains of South Central Pennsylvania, only a short distance from the Babes in the Woods memorial, which figures prominently in DEAD of AUTUMN.

Alexa let out a deep sigh and tilted her head to the left, then to the right, trying to dispel the tension building between her shoulder blades. Melissa was pushing her to the limit today. With reluctance, she gave in.

“We’ll both go. Does she have an alarm system?”

“I doubt it. Cecily rarely even locks the door.” Melissa reached for the doorknob, which turned easily in her hand, and the two women slipped into a mudroom area.

“Cecily?” Melissa called again in a hushed voice.

Alexa grabbed Melissa’s hand as they crept into the big kitchen. Following the scent of cinnamon, she noticed an uncovered plate of muffins next to the stove. The sight of a black pocketbook sitting undisturbed on the wide counter sent her pounding heart into overdrive.

“There’s a living room and an office through that door,” Melissa gestured, her steps slowing.

“Maybe we should go outside and call the police.”

“But what if Cecily has been hurt? Let’s at least check out the downstairs.” Melissa squared her shoulders and marched into the hall. Alexa scanned ahead and behind, on high alert, as she followed her friend.

“I’ll check in here. You look in there.” Melissa disappeared through the door on the right, and Alexa turned into the room that Melissa indicated on the left. Clearly, this was the office. She could make out the shape of an old roll-top desk in the near corner.

The stormy twilight that filtered through the tall casement windows steeped the room in shadows. This whole thing was creeping Alexa out. She ran her hand along the wall next to the entry, searching for a light switch. Finding none, she took a deep breath and strode toward the silhouette of a floor lamp on the far side of the room. She flipped the switch and sighed with relief as light flooded the office.

That relief vanished when Alexa took in the roll-top desk to her right. The desk was a mess. It looked like someone had pulled papers out of the little cubbies in the back of the desk and dumped them in the center. The big drawers all stood open, and more paper littered the floor beside the desk. The computer monitor hung by a cord, facedown, perched over some files. When Alexa took a step toward the desk, the monitor shifted, hitting the table with a thump. Startled, she backed away.

A coppery smell, like new pennies baking in the sun, hung in the still air. In the silence, Alexa noticed a faint buzzing noise coming from outside the house. Beyond the reflection of lamplight, she could see hundreds of flies crawling over the wavy glass panes of the antique windows.

With dread, Alexa turned left to survey the rest of the room. She moaned and swayed when she spied a pool of blood on the floor at her feet. “Not again. This can’t be happening again,” she protested under her breath.

As she looked in revulsion at the blood, a thin crescent of red inched toward her like a scarlet claw. She jerked her foot away in horror before she realized that it was a lone, blood-drenched fly, staggering out of the crimson pool in a drunken stupor.

Mechanicsburg, PA — Joe Fair’s heart-felt memoir of his time as a Black Scarf in the Big Red One in Vietnam, Call Sign Dracula, was the top-selling book for Sunbury Press in 2014, taking the Author of the Year Sunny as well as the top nonfiction book. Alan Mindell’s The Closer, about a baseball pitcher past his prime making a comeback, was the top fiction book for the year. Sherry Knowlton won the Sunny for Emerging Author of the Year thanks to her debut thriller novel Dead of Autumn. Following is a recap of Sunbury Press Sunny Awards over the years: